LaLiga requests EU include VPN providers on piracy watch list

LaLiga, the Spanish football league organization, has formally requested that the European Commission include several Virtual Private Network (VPN) providers on its Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List. The request targets prominent services including NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN.

LaLiga argues that these companies facilitate piracy by allowing users to bypass geographical restrictions to access football broadcasts at lower costs or for free. The league specifically points to affiliate marketing, where VPN providers allegedly profit from content created by third parties, such as blogs and influencers, that provide tutorials on how to circumvent geoblocking.

Being placed on the watch list does not constitute a legal judgment of illegality by the EU, but rather serves as a tool for monitoring and pressure. In response, Proton VPN has criticized the move, characterizing LaLiga’s strategy as an attempt to hold technical intermediaries responsible for the actions of third parties.